Article May 28, 2012 Issue

We have a heritage of freedom

An appeal to God's laws breaks the chains of heredity.

Olive Ratcliffe

What a joy a new baby can be in a family! And part of the fun as we gather round to greet the new arrival is looking for family resemblances—it’s almost automatic. These thoughts seem innocent enough. However, we are all aware that heredity also includes the possibility of being the recipient of negative characteristics from our ancestors. These can be unpleasant and hard-to-live-with traits, including impairments or diseases.

Christian Science offers a fresh view on this age-old subject of heredity by looking to God, Spirit, as the basis of creation. We begin with the Bible, which tells us in the first chapter of Genesis: “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. . . . And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:27, 31). 

Christ Jesus taught us that we are the children of God. He said, “Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9). And Jesus showed us that this spiritual view of God and His creation is practical. It was the basis of his teaching and healing works. As we spiritualize our concept of God and man, health and harmony are restored. And we realize the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).